Heatherly and Wild Rain were expected make the running in Saturday's $200,000 Group II Mitty's Racing Colours McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley, but when both missed the start Damian Lane elected to take a sit on Heatherly while Stephen Baster pressed on to lead on Wild Rain and the brave daughter of Manhattan Rain did the rest.
Godolphin's well-supported Furnaces and Heatherly both has their chances in the closing stages as Wild Rain refused to surrender her lead.
Furnaces was a length back in second with Heatherly a half-head further back in third. (photo Grant Courtney).
A last start winner Group III Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m), Wild Rain advances her record to 8 wins, 4 seconds and 1 third from 19 starts with earnings of $751,067.
Now a 4-time stakes-winner, the Mark Kavanagh-trained 5yo mare is expected to make her next start in the $500,000 Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) over the same track and distance on September 30.
"She's going really well, she's progressed nicely," Kavanagh said.
I was a bit surprised to see her in front today because I thought it would be a blistering pace and she would get a good drag.
"She can run those sectionals, which makes it hard for them to pick her up.
"She's been very consistent, she's been a great money-spinner and she's a Group II winner now.
"Three weeks now into the Moir, she's got a great record here and she's a specialist at 1000 (metres).”
Bred by Arrowfield and John Leaver, Wild Rain was a purchased by her trainer for $150,000 from Arrowfield draft at the 2013 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
A half-sister to the stakes-placed Flowerchild (Redoute's Choice), Wild Rain is the sixth foal of North Flower (Rory's Jester), a half-sister to the dam of 2003 Horse of the Year Northerly.
After missing to Snitzel in 2012, North Flower has a yearling filly by Animal Kingdom (USA) named Desert Flower that failed to make her $175,000 reserve at this year's Magic Millions Yearling sale.
After slipping to Animal Kingdom in 2014, North Flower missed to the Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup hero last spring.
Manhattan Rain stands at Arrowfield Stud in 2016 at a fee of $16,500 inc. GST.
